Method and apparatus for accessing a telephone network from the internet

ABSTRACT

A subscriber in communication with an IP network ( 12 ) such as the Internet, though a terminal ( 14 ) may launch an application on a Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) ( 16 ) by entering a data packet that takes the format of a telephone number that identifies the PSTN application. An IP gateway ( 22 ) couples the IP network ( 12 ) to the PSTN ( 16 ) and serves to recognize the data packet in the format of the PSTN application telephone number as well as translate the packet yield a stream of DTMF or other signals corresponding to the PSTN application telephone number. The IP gateway ( 22 ) then launches the stream of signals to dial the telephone number of the PSTN application. The gateway may also request information or control PSTN calls via the signaling/data channel between the gateway and the PSTN.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a technique for allowing a subscriberpresently in communication with an Internet Protocol (IP) network, suchas the Internet, to access an application on the Public SwitchedTelecommunications Network (PSTN).

BACKGROUND ART

For many individuals, the Internet is an indispensable communicationsmedium. Using the Internet, an individual can connect with thousands ofseparate sites that offer information, goods and/or services. Not onlycan an individual use the Internet to obtain information or to purchaseproducts and/or services; the Internet can carry communications, in theform of electronic mail, between and among individuals anywhere in theworld virtually instantaneously. A subscriber accessing the Internetestablishes communication with a particular site by entering thecorresponding Universal Resource Locator (URL). Thus for example, asubscriber on the Internet seeking access to the web site maintained byAT&T on the World-Wide Web would enter http://www.att.com. Other websites are accessed by entry of corresponding URLs.

Rather than access a particular web site, a subscriber on the Internetor another IP network, such as a private Intranet, may wish to launch anapplication on the Public Switched Telephone Network. For example, asubscriber on the Internet may wish to communicate with a computerlinked to the PSTN but not on the Internet. Alternatively, a subscriberon the Internet may need to access an Interactive Voice Response (IVR)system available only through the PSTN. In addition, a subscriber on theInternet may want to access information in the PSTN (such as a personalphone list or other personal information) and may want to set up a callon the PSTN under the control of the Internet. In all instances, nomechanism presently exists to allow a subscriber to directly access anapplication available exclusively on the PSTN via an IP protocolnetwork, such as the Internet.

In general, present day IP protocol networks respond only to URLs. Thus,a subscriber who wishes to launch a particular application on the PSTNor wants to access PSTN information must first log-off the IP networkand then establish a connection directly with the PSTN to access thedesired information or application. Logging off the Internet and thenestablishing a new connection with a PSTN to launch a desiredapplication is inconvenient. Moreover, a subscriber, once logged off theIP network, loses immediate access to services such as electronic mailand the like.

Thus, there is need for a technique for enabling a subscriber on an IPnetwork, such as the Internet, to gain access directly through thatnetwork to the PSTN to launch an application on the PSTN or to obtainpersonal information in the PSTN.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the presentinvention provides a method for enabling a subscriber in communicationthrough a terminal, such as a computer or the like, with an IP network,such as the Internet, to launch an application on the Public SwitchedTelecommunications Network (PSTN). Hereinafter, the term “launching anapplication on the PSTN” also includes the access of personalinformation on the PSTN. A subscriber initiates the method by enteringthrough his or her terminal a data packet that takes the format of atelephone number or routing number identifying the desired applicationon the PSTN. The IP network communicates the data packet to a gatewayplatform connected to the PSTN. The gateway platform recognizes the datapacket as telephone number of the desired application and thereaftertranslates the data packet into a stream of Dual-Tone-Multi-Frequency(DTMF) or other signals. The platform launches the signals to the PSTNto initiate the desired application. To the extent necessary for thesubscriber to fully engage the PSTN application, the gateway platformperforms all necessary translation of commands received from thesubscriber's terminal into corresponding signals (either DTMF,out-of-band signaling, and/or voice) for passage to the PSTN. Likewise,the gateway terminal performs all necessary translation of signals(DTMF, out-of-band signaling, and/or voice) from the PSTN into IPcommands for receipt on the subscriber's terminal. For informationaccess, the Internet Gateway would launch a query through a signaling ordata channel to the PSTN. Likewise, the gateway terminal performs allnecessary translation of signals (DTMF, out-of-band signals, and/orvoice) from the PSTN into IP commands for receipt on the subscriber'sterminal. For information access, the Internet Gateway would launch aquery through a signaling or data channel to the PSTN.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block schematic diagram of a network for accessingan application on PSTN through a terminal on an IP network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified schematic block diagram of a networkcombination 10 that includes an IP network 12, such as the Internet, ora private Intranet for example. The IP network 12 supports a pluralityof terminals 14—14 (only two of which are shown), each terminalcommunicating with the network 12 via the Internet Protocol. For ease ofillustration, the terminals 14—14 depicted in FIG. 1 enjoy a directconnection to the IP network 12. Alternatively, one or more terminals14—14 could gain access to the IP network through a LAN or via a dial-upconnection.

A subscriber in communication with the IP network 12 through a terminal14 can establish a link to another terminal by entering the appropriateUniversal Resource Locator (URL). The URL entered by the originatingsubscriber serves as the address for the destination terminal, thuspermitting the IP network to route data between the originating anddestination terminals. Unless the IP network 12 receives a URL in theproper format from an originating terminal 14, the network 12 can notestablish a communications link between the originating terminal and adestination terminal.

In some instances, a subscriber at a terminal 14 may wish to launch anapplication on a Public Switched Telephone Network 16, such as the PSTNnetwork maintained by AT&T. For example, a subscriber at a terminal 14in communication with the IP network 12 may wish to communicate with acomputer 18 linked to the PSTN but not linked to the IP network 12.Alternatively, the subscriber at a terminal on the IP network 12 maywish access data on an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system 18accessible only through the PSTN. Further, the subscriber at a terminal14 may wish to communicate with a telephone set 21 connected to thePSTN. Invariably, applications on the PSTN 16, such as those discussedabove, are accessed by entering the associated seven or ten-digittelephone number associated with the particular application. Heretofore,a subscriber in communication with the IP network 12 could not launch anapplication on the PSTN 16 simply by entering the telephone number ofthat application because the telephone number did not constitute anappropriate URL. Consequently, a subscriber in communication with the IPnetwork 12 through a terminal 14 had to first log off the IP network andthen establish a separate communications link with the PSTN 16.Moreover, a subscriber, once logged off the IP network 12, would loseaccess to services such as electronic mail and the like.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing disadvantages by enablinga subscriber in communication with the IP network 12 to launch anapplication on the PSTN simply by entering the telephone number of thatapplication. To facilitate the launching of a PSTN application from oneor more of the terminals 14—14, the network 10 includes an IP gateway 22linking the IP network and the PSTN.16. The gateway 22 includes a switch(not shown) as well as means for coding and encoding voice signals (notshown), as well as a packet processor for building and extracting (i.e.,packing and unpacking) packets for transmission to, and receipt from,the Internet 14. Other elements of the platform 16 include an echocanceller, a telephone signaling interface and a control processor formanaging the platform. In practice, the platform 22 typically includesthe elements of the Internet-Savvy (IS) platform disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No., 08/494,610, “Method and Apparatus forEstablishing Voice Connections Over Internet-like Networks,” filed onJul. 23, 1995, in the name of Daniel J. Mayer, and assigned to AT&T(herein incorporated by reference.) The IP Gateway not only includes avoice/DTMF link with the PSTN, but also includes a signaling/datachannel that enables the Gateway to query PSTN data resources and invokecontrols for call management.

In operation, a subscriber desirous of launching an application on thePSTN 16 via a terminal 14 enters the telephone number (e.g., seven orten digits) of that application via the subscriber's terminal 14. Thetelephone number of the PSTN application, by itself, would ordinarilymean nothing because it does not represent a URL to facilitaterecognition of another terminal. However, in accordance with theinvention, the IP network 12, upon receipt of a data packet from aterminal 14 corresponding to a seven or ten-digit telephone number, willpass that packet on to the IP gateway 22. The gateway 22 will recognizethe seven or ten-digit packet as the identifying telephone number of adesired PSTN application and will translate the packet into a sequenceof signals comprising the telephone number of the desired PSTNapplication. Thereafter, the gateway 22 launches the signals to the PSTNto dial the number of the desired PSTN application. For example, thesequence of signals could represent the telephone number of the computer18 or the IVR platform 20. If the request from the subscriber terminalis for access to the PSTN resources, the gateway will translate therequest to a query or control message to the PSTN.

After launching the sequence of digits to dial the telephone number ofthe desired PSTN application, the IP gateway 22 additionally providesany conversion of signals, control signals, and/or as voice commandsfrom the PSTN 16 into Internet Protocol for transmission to thesubscriber in communication with the IP network though the terminal 14.By the same token, the gateway 22 will also convert data packets in anIP format to signals and/or voice, as required by the application dialedon the PSTN 16. In this way, the subscriber can access a desiredapplication on the PSTN 16, yet remain connected to the IP network 12and receive services therefrom. The IP gateway 22 has sufficientintelligence to recognize when the connection through the PSTN 16 ismade to a voice system (e.g., IVR system 20) versus a modem (e.g.,computer 18) and to provide for appropriate capture of voiceinformation, such as via a .wav file. An example of this is theretrieval of a voice-mail message.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, only one gateway 22 is depictedin solid. In practice, the network 10 could include several gateways,(shown in phantom), each connected to a different segment of the PSTN,and in particular, to a different telephone carrier, such as a differentdomestic local exchange carrier, or international carrier. Each IPgateway 22 could respond data packets that represent a PSTN applicationassociated with a telephone number having a particular area code. Thus,for example, a data packet received at a particular IP gateway 22 willbe converted into the corresponding sequence of DTMF signals to launch acall directed to a local exchange carrier, rather than an inter-exchangecarrier. In this way, a subscriber could launch a PSTN applicationwithout necessarily accessing an inter-exchange carrier network, whichmight be especially useful for international communications.

The foregoing discloses a technique for enabling a subscriber incommunication with an IP network 12 through a terminal 14 to launch anapplication on the PSTN 16 by entering a data packet taking the formatof the telephone number of the PSTN application.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merelyillustrative of the principles of the invention. Various modificationsand changes may be made thereto by those skilled in the artart, whichwill embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spiritand scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for enabling a subscriber incommunications through a terminal with an IP network to launch from theterminal an application of interest on a Public SwitchedTelecommunications Network (PSTN), comprising the steps of: receiving inan IP network a data packet in the format of a telephone number thatidentifies the application of interest on the PSTN; communicating thedata packet to an P gateway in communication with the PSTN; recognizingthe data packet at the IP gateway and translating the data packet into astream of signals corresponding to the telephone number identifying theapplication of interest on the PSTN; determining, at the gateway,whether the identified application of interest on the PSTN is a voiceapplication and, if so, receiving from the subscriber additional datapackets following receipt of the initial data Racket that takes theformat of the telephone number of the PSTN application and translatingeach additional data packet into a voice transmitting command; andlaunching the stream of signals to the PSTN to dial the telephone numberof the application of interest.
 2. The method according to claim 1,further including the steps of: receiving at the IP gateway a voicecommand generated during the PSTN application; and converting the voicecommand into a .wav file for receipt by the subscriber.
 3. A method forenabling a subscriber in communications through a terminal with an IPnetwork to launch from the terminal an application of interest on aPublic Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN), comprising the stepsof: receiving in an IP network a data packet in the format of atelephone number that identifies the application of interest on thePSTN; communication the data packet to an IP gateway in communicationwith the PSTN; recognizing the data packet at the IP gateway andtranslating the data packet into a stream of signals corresponding tothe telephone number identifying the application of interest on thePSTN; determining, at the gateway, whether the identified application ofinterest on the PSTN is a modem application and, if so, receiving fromthe subscriber additional data packets following receipt of the datapacket that takes the format of the telephone number of the PSTNapplication; and translating each said additional data packet into ananalog signal for receipt by a modem voice transmitting command; andlaunching the stream of signals to the PSTN to dial the telephone numberof the application of interest.
 4. The method according to claim 3including the steps of: receiving at the IP gateway analog signalsgenerated during said PSTN application; and translating said analogsignals into data packets having an Internet Protocol.